Man who attacked former girlfriend gets 23 years behind bars

Published 1:30 am Monday, December 23, 2019

EVERETT — Cory Jacoby has been sentenced to 23 years in prison, after beating a woman so severely that she was left blind in one eye and with broken bones.

The Everett man used a bat and a hammer to attack his former girlfriend. About a year ago, he was charged with first-degree assault and two counts of violation of a court order. He later pleaded guilty, and in September asked to take it back, a motion that was denied.

Jacoby, 44, was sentenced on Thursday.

In early 2018, a woman had obtained a five-year protection order against Jacoby. She moved that summer to get away from him, to an apartment in Everett, according to police reports.

She never told Jacoby her new address, but somehow he found it.

That August, he showed up at her home and allegedly forced the woman to have sex. He wouldn’t let her leave the room.

At some point, she told him she needed to use the restroom. He attacked her when she returned, according to court papers.

Neighbors heard screaming around 2:30 a.m. and called 911. Some reported they saw a naked man walk from her apartment, carrying a baseball bat.

Tenants stayed with the woman until help arrived. Police found her in the fetal position on her bed with her eyes swollen shut.

She yelled that they burned, and she couldn’t see.

Officers found Jacoby near the apartment building. He was lying on the sidewalk, wearing only socks. He told police the woman had raped and bitten him.

The woman was taken to the hospital, and couldn’t speak because of the pain, according to one officer’s account.

Both of her hands and one arm were broken, and she was left blind in one eye.

Months passed, and in April Jacoby pleaded guilty. He later asked to rescind the plea, arguing that his lawyer had the wrong information about his criminal record while negotiating the case, court documents say.

Jacoby was sentenced Thursday, less than one week before Christmas.

The victim expected to be in the courtroom, but ultimately decided not to for her safety, prosecuting attorney Teresa Cox said.

“The reason she’s not here today is because of the defendant and contact she has had from somebody on his behalf, who has recently been released from jail,” Cox said.

Defense attorney Karen Halverson objected to that statement.

Cox recommended that Jacoby receive the high end of the standard sentencing range at 26½ years in prison. She said that the victim was still recovering from her injuries, and provided photos from the day of the attack.

Halverson asked for an exceptional sentence below the standard range at 12½ years behind bars.

Before Judge Paul Thompson made his decision, Jacoby’s mother read a letter aloud. She asked to have her son back in the family’s home soon, and wished the court a Merry Christmas. Jacoby’s father and brother were there as well.

Jacoby also read a note to the judge. “I can’t begin to say how sorry I am,” he said.

Thompson sentenced Jacoby to 23 years in prison.

Jacoby also received three years of community custody, and had to sign a no-contact order that expires in 2099, to stay away from the woman he attacked.

Jacoby has one prior felony and more than two dozen misdemeanors, including eight domestic violence convictions.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.